Wait… All Those Studies May Have "Detected" Microplastics in the Human Body Because of a Severe Error
Futurism • • health
Key Points:
- Recent research has suggested widespread presence of microplastics in human tissues, including the brain, but these findings are now being challenged by scientists who question the methodologies used in key studies.
- A notable study claiming increased microplastics in brain tissue has been criticized for inadequate contamination controls and potential false positives caused by fat in the brain, which can mimic plastic signatures in testing.
- The common analytical method Py-GC-MS, used to detect microplastics, may produce misleading results due to interference from fats in human tissue, leading to concerns that many reported microplastic concentrations are unrealistic.
- Experts highlight the lack of standardized guidelines for analyzing microplastics in biological samples and emphasize that many studies have not followed rigorous contamination prevention protocols.
